Protection of side-branches in coronary lesions with a new stent design

Side-branches often complicate stenting of coronary lesions. We investigate d a new stent, characterized by four wider cells in its center, which can b e expanded up to 3.5 mm and which are meant to be placed over the ostium of a major side-branch, Forty-seven consecutive patients with lesions involvi ng 48 side-branches received one side-branch stent each. Stent deployment w as successful in all patients. Twenty-five side-branches needed additional treatment. Nineteen side-branches received a PTCA, and 6 additional side-br anches were stented. Postinterventional CK-(creatine kinase) elevation was observed in 3 patients (6%), One additional patient was sent for CABG on th e day of the procedure due to loss of a stent intended to be placed into th e side-branch. The investigated stent proved to be a safe and effective too l to treat this complex subgroup of stenoses in the presence of favorably p reserved flow in the side-branches, with a low incidence of periprocedural complications. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 45:456-459, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley- Liss, Inc.